Sample Assignments
- Case Study:
- Compare housing discrimination in 1960s redlining vs. modern gentrification.
- Literary Analysis:
- Examine systemic gender roles in The Handmaid’s Tale vs. current abortion laws.
Sample Rubrics
| Criteria | Excellent | Proficient | Developing | Unsatisfactory |
| Historical & Societal Context |
- Nuanced analysis of how race/class/gender identities form. - Clear examples from the past and present. |
- Identifies key factors but lacks depth. - Limited historical/contemporary links. |
- Superficial treatment of identity. - Vague or inaccurate examples. |
- No meaningful analysis. - Ignores societal influences. |
| Power & Systems Analysis |
- Critical examination of systemic oppression (laws, institutions, culture). - Connects privilege to opportunity gaps. |
- Recognizes systems but misses complexities. - Simplistic privilege/oppression framing. |
- Weak system analysis (focuses only on individuals). - Overgeneralizes groups. |
- No systemic critique. - Denies/dismisses inequities. |
| Social Justice Application |
- Specific plan for action (e.g., policy change, community organizing). - Uses equity frameworks (e.g., Critical Race Theory, feminism). |
- Proposes action but lacks detail. - Names equity principles without depth. |
- Generic "awareness" solution (e.g., "people should be nicer"). - No framework cited. |
- No actionable ideas. - Reinforces status quo. |
| Clarity & Revision |
- Polished, persuasive prose. - Incorporates feedback to strengthen the argument. |
- Mostly clear; minor gaps. - Some revision effort. |
- Confusing or repetitive. - Minimal revision. |
- Unreadable. - Ignores feedback. |